I know I’ve been MIA this week, but we have gotten a TON of wedding stuff done! Yesterday we went out and signed the contract with our venue! So, we officially have a wedding date and location. We will be tying the knot on October 23, 2009, at Catoctin Hall at Musket Ridge. It’s about an hour outside of DC, at the foothills of the Catoctin Mountains. The views are gorgeous! Musket Ridge is a public golf course, and Catoctin Hall is an event venue that was added on a little over a year ago. They provide catering on-site, so that’s another vendor we don’t have to worry about! The Hall is stunning, photos don’t do it justice. It’s warm and rustic and elegant, unlike any place I’ve ever been in before.

And I took some photos while we were there! This is the entrance to Catoctin Hall, where the guests will enter. There are two entrances (the one for golfers is another big building to the right) so they’ll station someone at these doors to welcome guests:

The guests will then be ushered through the ballroom to the ceremony site – outdoors, weather permitting (knock on wood!)

Isn’t the view phenomenal? I can’t wait to see it in October with all the colorful leaves! After the ceremony, the guests will head back towards the hall for an indoor/outdoor cocktail hour…

…followed by dinner and dancing in the gorgeous ballroom! (It was being set up for an indoor wedding while we were there. Yes, the Chiavari chairs are included!)

I love love love it! We’ll go out in a few months again for a tasting with the caterer and wedding coordinator and discuss the details like timeline, room configuration, etc.

We have some more photographer and DJ meetings this week, and this weekend the first dress shopping excursion! I’m so excited that things are starting to fall into place!